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The L1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that enables US companies to transfer employees from overseas. Sometimes known as a work visa, it is an intracompany transferee The transferee must be an executive, manager or “specialized knowledge” employee that has worked at the company for at least one year in the last three. The US company need not be an existing business, it is permitted to establish a new US business and transfer employees to work in that business using the L1 visa. However, the new or existing business must have a “qualifying relationship” to the overseas business where the applicant works, for example, it could be an affiliate, subsidiary or parent company. It is advisable to consult with an L1 Visa lawyer.
Book a free consultation with an L1 visa attorney
The L1 visa means. There are two options – it all depends upon the type of employee being transferred to the United States. The L-1A visa is for management and executive-level employees that have worked for the related overseas company for at least one of the last three years. We must be able to document that they applicant has managerial responsibilities – this could be as a function manager or a manager with authority in the business. L-1A Visas can be renewed up to a maximum of seven years at which time it is possible to transition to a Green Card under the employment-based Green Card category EB-1C. Find out about the L1 visa fees.
What is an L-1B Visa? L1 Visa eligibility. L1 Visa cost.While the L-1A Visa is for managers and executives, the L-1B targets employees with “specialized knowledge”. There is scope for interpreting what specialized knowledge means in practice and our team will be able to determine whether you have a case. The L-1B visa applicant must have worked at the related overseas firm for at least one of the previous three years. L1B Visas can be renewed up to a maximum of five years.
If your company does not yet have a related US entity, it is possible to establish a new office and transfer staff there to manage and grow that business. This is called a “new office” L1 visa and is an option used by businesses of all sizes. Often small businesses and single proprietorships will use this new office L1 visa USA option to expand to the United States – and the owner of the business can be the transferee. It is crucial to ensure the new US entity is set up correctly so that there is a qualifying relationship that meets the rules. We can assist with this. New Office L1 visas are initially granted for a validity period of just one year before a renewal – this is because the US authorities want to check on the progress of a new business sooner than with an already operational business. Book a free consultation
Yes, qualifying family members can accompany the L1 visa applicant to the United States. This includes a spouse and any children under the age of 21. Family members are issued with L2 visas. Once children pass their twenty-first birthday they must transfer to another visa or leave the United States. Often these children switch to other visas like the student visa and the H-1B visa. Book a free consultation
Indeed, the partner of an individual holding an L1 visa can secure employment in the United States by acquiring an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The EAD grants the partner the freedom to work for any U.S. employer without any limitations.
No, L1 is not an immigrant visa. L1 is a non-immigrant visa. Immigrant visas offer permanent residency (Green Card) whereas non-immigrant visas offer temporary residency. However, the L1 visa is a “dual intent” visa, which means you are permitted to actively seek permanent residency during your time in the United States and do not need to prove that you intend to depart after your visa expires. L1 visa to green card is an option. We can also discuss L1 Visa vs h1b.
The L1 Visa duration is valid for a maximum of seven years and the L-1B visa is valid for a maximum of five years. However, your initial visa will not be valid for the full seven or five years, but will instead be determined by the “reciprocity schedule”, which limits the initial validity period based upon your country of origin. The schedule is only an upper limit and it is at the discretion of the consular officer as to how long your initial visa is granted. The exception to this is new-office L1 visas, which are only initially valid for one year before you need to apply for a renewal. Get in contact to find out about the cost of the L1 Visa. Please check l1 visa usa processing time. Book a free consultation
There are no limits to the number of L1 visas available in any given year. There is also no lottery associated with the availability of the visa. You can apply for an L1 visa from any country provided there are no general immigration restrictions on your country, such as those that do not hold diplomatic relations with the United States. The only limitations on availability are caused by the availability of appointments at your local US embassy or consulate or backlogs to waiting lists at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Book a free consultation
Can L1 Visa holders apply for a Green Card? L1 visa to green card.Yes, it is possible for individuals on an L1 visa to apply for US permanent residency (also called a Green Card). Most visas require applicants to demonstrate that they intend to depart the US, but the L1 visa is a “dual intent” visa where applicants can actively seek to stay and become permanent residents. L-1A visa holders can obtain a Green Card through the EB-1C visa route and L-1B visa holders can apply through the EB-3 visa category. There are also several other options, so it is best to discuss your situation with us directly. Book a free consultation
The L1 visa application process consists of two phases: initially, the petition must be sanctioned by USCIS. This could take a few months unless you opt for premium processing, which incurs an additional charge of $2,500. Under premium processing, USCIS is required to review the petition within 15 business days. If you get approved by USCIS, the next step is to apply for a visa at the Embassy. The availability of slots for appointments differs across embassies or consulates. Once your visa application is approved, you may have to wait for 5 to 7 days to actually get your visa in hand. Book a free consultation
No. Birth certificate is not required. Book a free consultation
A marriage certificate would be required for the spouse to apply as a dependent on the L2 visa.
The L1 visa holder and their dependants on L2 visas are not expected to travel in and out of the United States together. Spouses and children are free to travel without the principal L1 visa holder accompanying them.
Yes, it is possible to apply for an L1 visa while already in the United States on another visa. However, employees must have worked in a related overseas company for at least one year in the preceding three, which can pose challenges to applying for an L1 visa from inside the United States. If you meet the requirements, you would need to file a change of status application along with your L1 visa petition. The procedure entails filing Form I-129, Request for Nonimmigrant Worker, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If your request is sanctioned, you will receive L1 status and be eligible to work for a suitable US employer.
The L1 visa is an intracompany transfer visa between a US company and a related overseas entity. The transferring employee must have worked at the overseas entity for one of the previous three years before entering the United States. Consequently, it would be challenging to change jobs unless it was either within the same company or to another US entity related to the same overseas company or to another company the transferee worked at in the preceding three years.
Large companies that file lots of L1 visa applications can apply for a “blanket L1” to reduce the number of individual applications. A blanket L1 visa establishes a pre-approved petition which means that the firm does not need to file separately for each individual employee.
The L-1A Visa can be extended up to a maximum of seven years and the L-1B Visa up to a maximum of five years. After that time a L1 Visa holder must transfer to another visa, apply for a Green Card, or depart the United States. It is not possible to continue on the L1 visa for more than five or seven years.
There are many reasons why an L1 visa might be rejected, but usually, it is because the applicant does not qualify. The applicant may not be the appropriate type of employee, for example, USCIS might not think the person is at the manager or executive level or the applicant might not have built the case that they hold specialized knowledge. It might also be the case that the US company does not have a qualifying relationship with the overseas company or that the proposed transferee has not worked at the foreign company for long enough (minimum one year) to qualify.
The L1 Visa allows a US employer to relocate an executive, manager, or employee with specialized knowledge from a qualifying foreign organization to a US organization. Staff can be transferred to either an existing US business or a newly formed one. Book a free consultation
It allows you to transfer employees either to an existing US business or to a newly established business. If you do not yet have a business operating in the United States you may set one up and move staff under the “new-office rules”.
The L1 Visa permits foreign employees of multinational firms to work in the United States, serving as a visa for internal company transfers.
The United States government issues L1 and L2 Visas, which are nonimmigrant Visas.
The L1 Visa is a permit for intra-corporate transferees, enabling overseas employees working for a global corporation to operate in the United States. Book a free consultation
Should you presently be in the US under a different Visa category, you might have to submit an application for a change of status in conjunction with your L1 Visa request.
This procedure requires the submission of a Form I-129, Request for Nonimmigrant Worker, to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If your request is sanctioned, you will be accorded L1 Visa Status and be eligible to work for the qualifying US employer. Book a free consultation
Indeed, the L1 Visa is a category of nonimmigrant employment visa.
Indeed, the L1 Visa is a category of nonimmigrant employment visa.
yes, The L1 visa provides a pathway for employees to obtain a green card and establish permanent residence in the United States.
Indeed, the partner of an L1 Visa holder can secure employment in the United States by acquiring an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Book a free consultation
In order to obtain a new L-1 Visa, both you and the employer you are transferring to or within will need to requalify
L1B Visa for Specialized Knowledge Workers. Book a free consultation
Verify your qualifications: Confirm that you fulfill the requirements for the L1 Visa category. You should have been employed by a qualifying international corporation for a minimum of one uninterrupted year in the last three years.
Secure a job proposal: You need to have a job proposal from an employer based in the U.S. that has a qualifying connection with your present employer.
Submit a petition: Your employer is required to submit Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, to USCIS on your behalf. This involves providing proof of the qualifying connection between the two firms, as well as your qualifications and job responsibilities.
Participate in an interview: You are required to participate in an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India. You should bring all necessary documents, such as your passport, Visa application, and supporting evidence.
Awaiting a verdict: Following the interview, you’ll have to wait for a verdict on your L1 Visa application. If it’s granted, you’ll get your Visa and be eligible to journey to the United States.
The US firm that has a qualifying connection with your overseas company must submit a petition for your relocation to the US.
A blanket L1 Visa is a unique immigration advantage that permits overseas employees to move from a global office to a U.S. office of the identical employer. Book a free consultation
No
Global Immigration Partners is a specialized immigration law firm. A substantial part of our practice focuses on assisting business owners and investors with E1, E2, L1 and EB-5 visas.Through our international presence we have specialist knowledge of the specific procedures in multiple embassies and consulates around-the-world.
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Phone: +1 (267) 507-6078
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